Backcountry XC Ski Gear: Fischer Easy Skins (EZ-Skins)

[@DanielDunn]

Nice work Jared, I like how you call out BS stuff and maybe what's not BS. I've watched a couple of your vids now and really appreciate that you always mention "with good technique". Good job. I enjoyed it.

[@JaredManninen]

Thanks so much for the kind words :) I try not to be too harsh in my criticism of various gear because everyone has their preferences and manufacturers invest a lot in their work, but a lot of times I get frustrated at the marketing of some gear. And then, working in the field, I find myself answering lots of questions about it. So I just try to be honest about it based on my personal experience. If that helps a person make a more appropriate decision or gain a clearer understanding of the thing, I'm fine with that. That said, I try to avoid doing traditional gear reviews because there's already a million other people doing them, and I don't like giving bad reviews (particularly of a product from a company I like!). Anyway, I totally appreciate you tuning in! The feedback is always helpful :)

[@dede13295]

Jared that video was so awesome, I am French Canadian, and started cross country skiing in 1973, I will always remember are backcountry adventures we were 6 friends and we took turns going in front to make the trail, cause we only add regular cross country skis, but we all would have loved having those wide country skis, I am 68 yrs old and still cross country ski.You be safe Jared and always love your videos. Prends soins mon ami...:)

[@JaredManninen]

Thanks so much for the kind words, Fehan Pieter :) And I'm so glad to hear that you're still skiing! I wish I had a crew of six to share the trail breaking duties! haha That sounds like a great time. But I think I showed up to the party a little late in life because most of my cross-country skiing friends all have families, full-time jobs, and way more life responsibilities than me. I have no regrets, but I do wonder what things would've been like had I began to cross-country ski in my 20s (instead of my 40s). But it's all good. And I'll continue to get out as often as possible because it's a wonderful thing to play outside, especially during the winter. Anyway, thanks so much again for the feedback. I'm glad to hear you're enjoying my videos! And you take care, as well, my friend :)

[@rahulrane1658]

Jared, How are you doing mate? We had good snow here and then nothing for so long. Did 2 sessions with little daughter And did a 5KM run solo today It was so icy 😃 Thanks again for all detail in your videos.

[@JaredManninen]

That's great you're getting outside, especially with your child! Developing an appreciation for nature at an early age is key to becoming a more passionate and compassionate person (at last in my opinion 😊).

[@newttella1043]

Thanks for the honest explanation of the gear. I'm still not a fan of scales or those small skins. Maybe my technique is not great with a heavy pack on, but I find tweaking my wax pocket and using a full length narrower than full width skin to be the most useful set up.

[@JaredManninen]

Hey Newt Tella, Thank you for the kind words :) Yeah, I'm generally not a huge fan of the smaller skins. They come in handy in the iciest conditions, but that's about all I use them for. And even though I like the predictability of the scale-patterned base, I totally understand that many people don't like scales at all. I'd also agree that a full-length skin has the benefit of being nearly guaranteed to work in any condition without having the lurch factor (in certain conditions) of going from the glide surfaces to the skins. At least with that full-skin you know exactly what the score is. What type of backcountry xc skis do you run, if you don't mind me asking?

[@newttella1043]

@@JaredManninen I am currently running Rossignol BC68 skis with NNN-BC bindings, very traditional waxable light touring setup. I use a skinny 38mm wide full length skin. The skin was something I already owned and to my pleasant surprise it works great with my 68mm wide skis. No problem on the steep climbs and I use the skins for descending tight icy sections too. The narrow skins help keep my downhill speed predictable and stays clear of the edges so I can get into a hard snow plow. Out of trail necessity, I had created a duct tape pocket on the skins for the tail of the ski to sit in. I find the skins come off if the tails aren't secured. This happened to a few people on the trail that day. I wonder how effective those small skins you have would hold up, the tail just relying on the glue? Anyways I did own a pair of Salomon waxless back country xc skis from about 5 or 6 years ago. I really got sucked into the marketing and craved the wider skis, shorter length (less tangled in the trees), and the idea of going waxless. But I was slipping everywhere and relied heavily on the skins when I knew waxable skis would work fine on the undulating terrain. I dreaded every little rise. Maybe those salomons are meant for folks who can do free heel telemark turns in deeper powder but I didn't see the benefit of the wider ski for the kind of trips I was doing. Plus, wider skis destroyed the xc classic tracks that we needed to ski on before accessing the backcountry. I stayed out of the tracks and skated my way while others kicked and glided till the tracks ended. Even in the tracks those scales had a crappy kick. So in short those waxless Salomons tired me out and frustrated our group's pacing. Other than a slightly better edge bite on the descends I saw no benefit to those skis. Those skis wore me out and made me ski like a first timer. Sold them and gone back to waxable traditional light touring setup.

[@JaredManninen]

@@newttella1043 Very interesting! I've had nothing but fun with my various width Fischer waxless skis. I'm able to diagonal stride with them pretty efficiently. But when you know what you like, you know what you like. So, I can totally understand your appreciation for your current setup. I've wanted for the longest time to get a set of Asnes backcountry xc skis. They sound similar to yours in that they're waxable, but they also accommodate a smaller quick-skin (like the Fischers). I just don't want to deal with grip wax, though. haha. Mostly because the snow is so variable here in the Sierra Nevada. It's hard to dial in the right grip wax. Anyway, thanks for the information. And, I hope you have a great New Year!

[@newttella1043]

@@JaredManninen You're definitely a better skier than me and can get the most out of the ski design. I'm just so used to using grip wax as a crutch to change how my skis work under me. I'll have to watch more of your videos so I can understand the new technologies better. I like your honesty!

[@JaredManninen]

@@newttella1043 You're too kind :) Thanks for watching. And, again, thanks for all of the feedback!

[@tomdavies2346]

Have you ever skied the Rossignol BC 80 Positrack? Compared the Fischer Out ack? Thanks

[@JaredManninen]

Hey Tom! I actually don't know if I've skied the Rossi BCs before. Well, technically I did try one pair years ago that I found abandoned on the side of the road (if you can believe that!) that were too long for me. I didn't have any success with them because they were just too long and stiff for me to compress in order to get any grip. Nothing wrong with the ski, I just wasn't heavy enough for it. That said, I believe that most skis within this style/genre (waxless/scale-patterned backcountry cross country skis) perform similarly. Over the years I've stuck with Fischer skis both out of habit and because they feel stiff enough for me to actually diagonal stride off-track/off-trail. I've randomly skied on other bc xc skis (friends' skis and whatnot) and found that the couple of brands that I did briefly test were just slightly softer (which would make downhill turning easier, but not as responsive for striding). Again, though, they all feel pretty similar to me. I'm sure reps for either brand would tell that theirs are better because of this, that, or the other thing, but I just think all the minor differences between them are so negligible that either one would be fun to ski. So, in my opinion, I think you'd be happy with either set of skis. Just make sure you stick with the length of ski that's recommended for your weight and you should be good to go. Not sure if any of that helps, so let me know if you have other questions. And, as always, thanks for tuning in and for the comment :)

[@tomdavies2346]

Thanks so much for your reply and insight. Hoping for a good snow year!

[@JaredManninen]

@@tomdavies2346 You're welcome! I'm crossing my fingers, too, for a good winter :)

[@accolade37]

I find in icy conditions using a waxable ski with klister works better. It doesn’t compromise the glide. But the fish scales are the best overall technology for BC on rolling terrain because the work in almost all conditions and it is convenient. I have used skins but I find they just drag too much, although this is one way to use them. But I probably would only use them if I am doing a long climb up. With a bit of technique modification you can use fishscales on shorter climbs in icy conditions. Or what if find is if you know it is icy, use a waxable ski with klister.

[@JaredManninen]

That sounds really interesting, about using klister in icy conditions. I actually have to first buy a set of backcountry xc skis that don't have scales (like Asnes) and give that a try. I've always been fascinated by bc xc skis that don't have scales but, like you said, scales are generally the best all-around skis for backcountry use so I just haven't made the commitment to buying any others. But you give me some ideas... haha. That said, do you use waxable off-track/backcountry xc skis and, if so, what brand/style? Like I said, I've always been intrigued by Asnes, but just haven't shelled out the money for them yet. And I also agree with you that external skins designed for xc skis tend to drag but, as a result, would be best on a long uphill icier climb :) Thanks for watching, and for adding to the conversation. I really appreciate it!

[@accolade37]

@@JaredManninen I am from Ontario and I started BC skiing about 8 years ago. I started off on a backcountry nordic ski but I found that I struggled when the terrain got steep or the trails too narrow. I have graduated to a much shorter setup with two types of bindings. A BC Nordic with a soft boot and a telemark mountaineering binding (3 pin). With a plastic BC telemark boot. Because I am only 5'3 and weigh about 115 lbs, most of the skis for sale on the market that have fishscales are too long. I can't turn them properly. This year I switched to a junior alpine ski which works great, but of course, don't have fish scales. I have been using grip wax which works great when I get the wax right. I watched your video because I wondered about a kick skin. But I think I will have the same problem as you mention, too much drag. I have the Altai hoks but there is too much drag, they basically function like a snowshoe. I might try carving a pattern with a Dremel tool, and see if that works. Anyways, I really appreciated your video because I think the kick skins work best on a traditional nordic ski that has more like a double camber, and the skin doesn't drag.

[@JaredManninen]

​@@accolade37 Very cool background! I applaud your efforts to find a system that best works for you. The junior alpine ski with grip wax sounds pretty innovative, especially if you do some base prep to create a scale pattern :) From the get go I've pretty much gone the full Nordic route and I've just stuck with Fischer's line of off-track/backcountry xc skis. Mostly because they feel like some of the stiffest bc xc skis on the market in that their cambers feel more appropriate for diagonal striding. Finding a setup that's ideal for one's self is definitely a process. I do own a number of bc xc skis at this point, but I tend to find myself using the same ski repeatedly throughout the season (if it's a consistent season). For example, Tahoe has been getting so much snow all year, that mostly I've been running my S-bound 112mm. Other seasons we get barely any snow and I can use my Spider 62mm for most of the winter. So it's nice to have a selection from which to choose :) Oh, and I was asked about my experience with Altai Hoks, which I don't have any other than secondhand info from friends who've used them on occasion, so I'm going to pass along your brief feedback to the other person who was asking me about it. Anyway, thanks so much for watching and reaching out. I really appreciate it!

[@accolade37]

@@JaredManninen thank You for the post!

[@paulblichmann2791]

What if you put klister on fishscales? I bet you wouldn't slip. But removal...oof. Maybe you could wear it off on the downhill?

[@mikelambert1550]

Good overview! Question: I have Fischer S-Bound WAX skis (there’s a notch on the tail). What type of skins would you recommend?

[@JaredManninen]

Hey Mike, thanks for the feedback :) Honestly, I am not familiar with Fischer S-Bound waxable skis with a notched tail. Are they more alpine touring oriented by chance? I kind of assume they are if they're designed to be used with a full skin. And, that said, I'm also not really familiar with full skins for alpine touring skis. Most of my experience with skin tech is either with the short skins for use with xc skis that feature the quick click-in style (such as the waxless S-bounds featured in this video) or with classic track xc ski skis that use streamlined skins in the grip zone. So, I don't think I'm going to be much help with your particular question. If you could point me in the right direction (i.e. specific model of ski you're running) I might be able to provide a little more information. Sorry for my incomplete answer :)

[@rahulrane1658]

Hi Jared. Are you able to do the herringbone technique uphill with your backcountry skis, when not using skins? Also what type of binding are you using on these skis? They are not the same BC nnn that you have shown before, are they?

[@JaredManninen]

Hey Rahul! Yeah, I can definitely herringbone with these (and all of my other backcountry xc skis) without using the additional skins. The wide, Fischer S-bound 112s that I'm using in this video can be challenging to edge on hard-packed and icy snow (because they're so wide and my boots are generally pretty soft), but I usually manage just fine. I've used these 112s in a number of videos. But they do have simple 3-pin bindings on them (no cables). I didn't use these skis a ton this winter (2020-21), though, due to not having a lot of big snowstorms. Mostly I ended up using my Excursion 88s (with NNN BC magnum bindings). Let me know if you have other questions!

[@rahulrane1658]

@@JaredManninen Thanks Jared. I love the way you have conquered the terrain.

[@JaredManninen]

Thanks, Rahul. But there's still a ton that I need to learn, too. Backcountry travel is an on-going process. And I love it for that reason 😁

[@alexanderperez6826]

Being new to xc skiing and skiing in general I’ve been trying to do research on how to best utilize the skin system on my Madshus panorama’s. I was told that it’s ok to leave the skins on indefinitely for use up here in Alaska? Should I be just utilizing them in icy terrain? The locking system does not seem to be as easy to use compared to those ez skins. I’m almost afraid of breaking the plastic locking pin trying to take them off. Great videos I’ve been learning a lot!

[@JaredManninen]

Hey Alexander, thanks so much for the kind words and the questions! You could definitely leave the skins on your skis all the time if you wanted to. Your skis are different than mine in that they don't have a "waxless" grip zone (i.e. the scale pattern). Your skis are more like the Asnes line of cross-country skis with a fully glide-oriented base (and the option to fix those quick skins to the bases). In a lot of respects the Madshus Panoramas are more like a true XCD (Cross-Country Downhill) ski than the Fischer line simply because they have no scales to slow the skier down on the descent. But I'm a weirdo in that I love scales for their versatility and durability. And I love to diagonal stride all over the place, which the scales are a lot better at enabling me to do so without any issues. For me, the skins are just an extra measure to negotiate icy stuff when faced with it. For you, though, the skins are pretty much a requirement if you want to ski the flats or uphill. It also appears that the front edge of the way your skins fix to your skis is more tapered than mine, which should alleviate a lot of the lurch factor. Just reading about the "INTELLIGRIP® TRANSITION SKIN," the promo text states, "The use of an insert ensures a smooth transition between gliding surface and skin which is critical for decreasing drag..." This is where I run into the problems with my skin system. If you look at the static photo that I included in the video of the pattern those skins make in the snow, you'll see the front edge of the skins press into the snow just as much as the rear edge of the skins. This is a big problem for diagonal striding (if there's no taper) because you basically have a flat edge meeting the snow (causing me to come to a halt). What many people will do with your type of skis is skin up, pull the skins off, and then ski down. The idea behind these XCD styles of skis is that they're designed for fast and light travel, but not super steep ascents/descents. The quick skin system such as what yours features just makes it easy for a person to go climb some hills and makes some turns without all that extra business associated with the heavy alpine touring setups (but they can do the steep and treacherous stuff, whereas we can't do it safely). Also, you could, if you knew how to do it, actually use grip wax in the grip zone of your skis instead of the skins. That's the same as the Asnes brand line of similarly styled skis. But, that's a whole other ball of wax (pun intended) that I wouldn't even bother with. The convenience of the easy on/off skin tech option should keep you moving forward no matter what. Anyway, hope that helps! Let me know if you need any clarification or if you have any other questions :)

[@outdoorvideos]

@@JaredManninen this answer was really helpful for me too. thank you!

[@JaredManninen]

@@outdoorvideos Glad I could be of service, Steven! Thanks so much for reading the questions/comments. I like that they become a reference (in addition to the videos themselves) for everyone else. Take care, and let me know if you have any questions :)

[@deltafour1212]

In your personal experience with various type of conditions for backcountry XC skiing, what size width ski do you find yourself mostly using?

[@JaredManninen]

That's an interesting question because I do tend to gravitate toward certain skis during certain winters. It seems like every winter in recent memory has had it's own unique personality. The winters where we consistently receive a lot of snow I use my Fischer S-bound 112mm. But during low-snow years I wind up using my Fischer Spider 62mm a lot. Overall, however, I think I've gotten the most use out of my Fischer Excursion 88mm. I think if I had the Traverse 75mm (or a comparable width ski from a different manufacturer), I might gravitate toward that one most often. Since I don't, however, I believe the Excursion 88mm is my most often used ski.

[@TJackSurvival]

You have a great channel. I’m 190lbs 6’1” I want a pair of those. What size do you suggest?

[@JaredManninen]

Thanks so much! As far as the sizing goes for those Fischer S-bound 112s (that I'm using in the video), you'd probably be great in a 189cm. I think Fischer's off-track/backcountry skis only come in three sizes (169, 179, 189). The 189s, I believe are rated for someone 175lbs or more. I've seen some brands feature a backcountry variety that accommodates 200+lbs, but I think for Fischer skis the 189 is their largest (unless they've changed that recently). I really like them for deeper and softer snow. For firm stuff I have some 62 and 88mm (tip width) that work well. And, of course, always refer to the manufacturers weight recommendation. Sometimes you have to search around online, but you should be able to find one for the S-bounds relatively easy. Anyway, hope that helps! And thanks for watching :)

[@subtle.banter]

Finally found some skis for the woods in this crazy market with Covid and the Fischer fire and all, it has proven to be quite difficult. I got the Fischer S-Bound 112 like you have there. I had already purchased the Alpina 1550 NN BC boot. Should I be ok with this boot if I don’t get into downhill too much? Love your videos man, very informative and always make me miss Lake Tahoe.

[@JaredManninen]

@@subtle.banter Hey Seth, thanks for the comment and kind words! It's definitely been a challenging season to find gear, so I'm glad you were able to get those 112s. Those 1550s look pretty solid, so as long as you're not trying to descend super steep stuff I suspect you'll be good to go with them. Even the Fischer BCX 675s that I use on the 112s (w/basic 3-pin binding) are still pretty soft boots but they seem to do the job. Enjoy the new skis, and have a great winter!

[@MTBzine]

Hi Jared, Me and my wife have gotten into XC skiing last year and are looking to purchase a pair of back country XC ski's but we are basically still beginners. We live in the North East if NYS. What approximate width would you recommend for us?

[@JaredManninen]

Hey MTBzine, Thanks so much for reaching out, and I'm so glad to hear that you're getting into cross-country skiing! There are lots of considerations to take into account when choosing your new backcountry cross-country skis. However, the biggest factor to consider when choosing a width of backcountry xc ski is going to be directly related to the depth of snow in which you'll normally be skiing. Obviously, the snowpack will change and evolve throughout winter but I'm sure you have a general idea of how much snow you'll ski on an average basis. So use that as a guide. Where I live, here at Lake Tahoe, we have relatively extreme snow conditions ranging from multiple feet of dry powder (immediately during/following a storm) to firm conditions (after a couple of days for the snow to consolidate). So, I have a number of different width backcountry xc skis for every condition. The skinniest skis that I have are 62mm, and I use them in firm conditions with no more than a two or three inches of soft snow. The widest skis that I have are 112mm, and I prefer to use them in snow deeper than eight inches. And then I have a couple of sizes in-between for three to eight inches of soft/fresh snow. The most versatile sizes for backcountry use tend to be between 70-90mm wide. Keep in mind that you can run wider skis in a lesser amount of fresh snow. But running wide skis on really firm snow and in crusty/icy conditions is super frustrating (and often dangerous). At the other end of the spectrum is that skinnier off-track skis are not helpful in snow that's deeper than a few inches. You're basically on snowshoes at that point (with those skinny skis). Long story, short, if you're normally dealing with 3-6 inches of fresh snow at any given time I'd probably lean toward buying something between 70-80mm wide. Or, if you're going to normally find yourself skiing in fresh snow deeper than 6 inches, I'd probably get something in the 80-90mm range. And, if you're always going to be skiing in deep snow, choose something over 90mm wide. But if you're going to be skiing in mostly firm conditions consider a 60-70mm width. This is always a tough question to answer because depth of snow is not always the only factor to consider. Two other big factors include: - Technical skills (i.e. great xc skiers can generally make anything work, at least in the short-term) - Terrain over which you'll be skiing (i.e. mountainous versus flat, rutted out snowmobile tracks versus pristine untouched snow...) Here are two links to videos/articles that I've produced about buying xc skis that may provide additional insight: kzbin.info/www/bejne/epLOXnptepV9gcU (the question of buying one set of skis for on/off-track xc skiing) tahoetrailguide.com/buying-cross-country-ski-gear-for-beginners-part-1/ (considerations for buying xc skis) Anyway, I hope that helps! Let me know if you have other questions :)

[@MTBzine]

@@JaredManninen thanks for the tips, it helped a lot! Keep up the great work, your videos have helped us tremendously, we wish we lived closer to come and take lessons!

[@JaredManninen]

@@MTBzine You're very kind :) I appreciate the feedback. Once we get closer to the snowy months I'll get back on my winter production schedule :)

[@Sirskibumsalot]

Nice skis Jared ..... and info . so far this whole season I have not used my skins at all , just been using my BC skis with the fish scale bases . So Im liking that and dropping some fun stuff .....made a couple recent vids and there on my channel if you wanna check them out .....Ok have a great spring and have fun out there !!

[@JaredManninen]

Hey ski bum, great to hear from you! I really like the skis and, like you, make do with the fish scales. I think they work just fine in most everything. I'll check out your videos soon. Glad to hear you're still able to ski, too :)

[@irinarivkin]

Thanks Jared! Awesome video! As a beginner (with some physical challenges) who only skis parallel, no telemark turns, I have a question about skins on the downhill in super-icy conditions. Since I'm a beginner, don't use skins on the uphill because if it's too icy to get up without skins, it's too icy for me to get down safely (I just ski down in my own tracks, or, with at least one ski in my own tracks, on ungroomed unplowed forest service roads). In icy conditions, can EasySkins effectively be worn to smoothly slow down descent to avoid getting out of control, or would they result in fast-slide/stop/lurch jerky movements? The types of super-icy where a half-snowplow and dragging poles behind me aren't enough to slow down. I'm trying to decide between Rossi Positrack 100 BC and Fischer S-bound 98, and wondering if there are skins for one of these that can handle low-slope ice both on the up and down? Also, is one of those better than the other for frequent freeze/thaw conditions (6K feet elevation, 1 hr North of Tahoe). Thanks!

[@JaredManninen]

Hey Irina, Thanks so much for your kind words! And for tuning in :) As far as using skins as a means of slowing you down on the descents, I'm a bit skeptical. The partial skin that Fischer uses (EZ - Skin) does create the lurchy experience when trying to glide with them. At least it does for me. It mostly has to do with the fact that the skin is applied to the middle of the grip zone without any recessed channel in the grip zone (like you'd find on a regular skin-based classic ski). In essence, there's just a strip of fabric (skin) stuck to the bottom of your ski and these types of skis aren't double cambered like a track ski (so you're always dragging the grip zone a little more than a classic track ski no matter what). So, I often come to a screeching halt in firm snow conditions when I try to diagonal stride with the skins on. I believe that this would be a similar experience if you were to use the skins to slow you down while skiing downhill. That said, I do use those skins in really icy conditions to essentially walk my way up/down terrain features when I feel unsafe. But, at that point, it's more about survival than enjoyment. I also carry micro-spikes for such conditions. Rather than using skins, I'll sometimes just take the skis completely off, fix the micro-spikes to my xc ski boots, and walk down the dangerous section(s). Another option I employ is to make long, lazy traverses down firm angles of terrain (when I feel unsafe about going directly downhill). This last option isn't pretty, but it gets me home in one piece. And I'm not embarrassed to admit that I've done this more than once :) If you had a full set of skins to cover the entire base of the skis, that would probably offer you a better chance of slowing down for going downhill. You'd have the benefit of a uniform surface (full skin) instead of glide zone/skin/glide zone creating the lurchy experience. I think the Rossignols accommodate a full skin setup (as evidenced by that notch in the tip of the ski), but I don't have any experience with them. Even then, I'm not sold on this idea either. You're not really going to be able to diagonal stride with full skins on so at that point you're essentially snowshoeing with skis. There's no question that safety is always paramount. You have to go home safely after each ski session. And I'm all for creative problem solving. But my concern here is that it seems like we're trying to use equipment (skins) outside of its intended use. Not that skins couldn't help you to descend safely. But, in my mind, this should be the exception not the rule (or the standard practice). There will always be challenging sections of terrain in which to deal with in mountainous areas. But is it possible to choose that terrain differently based on snow conditions and angles/aspects? I have various locations around my home (in South Tahoe) that I'll choose depending on what the snow conditions are like so that I can mostly avoid dangerous stuff. Also, is it possible to ski at different times of the day so that the snow can soften up to the point where it's no longer ice? Personally, I can't stand skiing on ice and will adjust my plans accordingly if I know that's the situation. Again, my alternate plans are mostly going to revolve around choosing different angles of terrain on which to ski as well as different times of the day. Here's a short VLOG I produced last season while skiing in icy conditions. Check it out for more of my thoughts about ice ... kzbin.info/www/bejne/a4rbppaBpNCfsKc As far as which ski would be a better choice, I have traditionally preferred Fischer skis because they generally have felt a bit stiffer to me. This allows me to diagonal stride better on them, but makes it more challenging to get them to turn on the downhills. I own S-Bound 98s and love the skis (great all-around backcountry xc ski with a generous sidecut). But I also like the Rossis as they're also great skis. One criticism of the Rossi that I've heard, however, is that the notch at the tip can catch on natural debris such as brush and branches when negotiation that type of terrain. Anyway, lots of thoughts but no real answers. Sorry I couldn't be more definitive as to what would be best for you, but I hope I've at least provided a little more food for thought. Let me know if you have any other questions!

[@irinarivkin]

@@JaredManninen thanks so much! Which do you think is better for 6K elevation conditions (including Sierra cement) -- Asted Ingstad or Fischer S-bound 98's? I don't do zig-zag turns because I mostly ski forest service roads, which are not quite wide enough for zig-zag turns at my ski level. How do the cambers and rockers of those compare and does Asted still float well despite being slightly narrower? Thanks!

[@JaredManninen]

​@@irinarivkin I think you'd be happy with either of those sets of skis. Both are top-notch. I've always wanted a pair of Asnes skis, but have never invested in them. I really want a pair of the Ingstads now! They look super cool :) Honestly, though, I think the grip zone on the S-bound 98s is going to be way more aggressive (and forgiving) though. I don't know what your skills are, but the grip zone on the Ingstad definitely looks like it was designed for xc skiers with good diagonal stride technique as it looks much more conservative. And since Asnes is a Norwegian company, I think their skis are designed for experienced xc skiers. I also think the camber might be slightly stiffer. Again, those Norwegians know how to diagonal stride and want everyone else to, as well. The extra width of the S-bound 98s will also be helpful when there's more snow. And, even though 98mm is pretty wide for an xc ski, it doesn't feel so big when dealing with lesser snow. Anyway, either one would be great, but I think you might be a little more happy with the S-bounds thanks to that more aggressive grip zone. Hope that helps!

[@irinarivkin]

@@JaredManninen thanks! I'm on the beginner side, but I'm pretty confident with diagonal stride (if that means my skis being completely parallel, pushing off one, gliding on the other, and moving the arms/poles on the opposite side like slo-mo exaggerated running). In fact that's almost the only way I ski flats and upslope, but my skis don't leave the snow, only my heel does. I don't skate-ski or telemark at all. Where I'm especially a beginner is that I don't do zig-zag turns on nordic skis (I only use 3-pin/75mm and leather boots), don't turn well, and only use snowplows (half and full) and poles and seeking uphill areas and softer snow-zones for stopping (I can't do a hockey stop, and my heels usually don't cooperate well when trying to turn, and generally just ski straight down my own tracks when conditions are good). Would the S-bounds still win over the Asnes with that level? Thanks!

[@JaredManninen]

@@irinarivkin I think the S-bounds would be just fine. And I think their more aggressive grip zone would be good for you. I also recommend an upgrade to your xc ski boots. A basic 3-pin binding is fine, but I suspect your leather boots at this point are quite soft. There are a bunch of different options on the market for very comfortable, basic, yet more supportive 3-pin boots for off-track xc skiing. Also, you're not very far from world class xc ski resorts (Truckee) with lots of instructors if you ever want to increase your skills, especially with the downhill aspect. I generally recommend to people that they invest more in skills and abilities than equipment to make them safer/better skiers. Just a thought, anyway :)

[@hapellon9604]

I have a question guys ! I am a noob. I ski alright/good since im a child , i cant say im a pro or great cause some people ski crazy good but i do black or diamonds and powder without much issue.... I want to start backcountry ski : but im on budget ! mean i want skis that are good in everything ! That i can use on everything ! Ofcourse that would mean less good at some stuff but still ! I m 1m82 , i want to be able to do alpine ski with it ( ski resorts) , back country ( powder/climbing), and even tracks from cross country !!! ( tho the ski might be too large for the trails , i would like to be able to follow my wife on the cross country track) ... is it possible with some Ski and skins ?? Thanks

[@JaredManninen]

Thanks for the question, but that is a tough one to answer. Basically you're asking about the perfect ski or, in other words, the ski that has yet to be created 😉 I'm not an alpine skier and don't know a ton about alpine touring, but that type of setup seems like it would be more in line with what you want to accomplish. I'm a cross-country skier who uses light-weight backcountry cross-country skis. I can do some Telemark and modified parallel turns on that gear, but it's a challenge depending on conditions. And I wouldn't want to use that type of gear at an alpine resort because it's too light weight. The problem with the alpine touring gear with regard to fitting into xc ski tracks is that those skis are definitely too big (as you said). But you don't necessarily need to be in the tracks. You could actually ski alongside your girlfriend. Anyway, I'm thinking an AT setup would probably your best bet. Unfortunately, that is not my expertise. Not sure if that helps, but that's all I got ☺

[@duanetschmidt]

Why are you using wide skis in such hard pack icy conditions? Just for the video demo?

[@JaredManninen]

Hey Duane, thanks for the question :) Mostly I've been using my widest xc skis recently (and in most of the clips in this video) because Tahoe received multiple feet of snow in a big snowstorm 2-3 weeks ago. Prior to it, we hadn't seen any significant snow since the middle of January. And, ever since that mid-March snowstorm, we've only had a few dustings. So, there hasn't been much stacking or compression in the snowpack. What we've been left with is mostly a crusty layer on top of a huge weak layer ... and my narrower xc skis just cut through that crust layer and sink into the soft stuff. And then there are track-packed trails all over, such as the one I was "skiing" along, so it's been a bit of a mixed bag lately. Using the wide skis in that hard-packed stuff definitely sucks, but I choose to suffer through it in order to find more favorable snow higher up the mountain. On consistently firm surfaces, I totally prefer to use skinnier skis. But it always seems like we have such variable conditions around Tahoe. I didn't make it clear in the video, but the panning shot from the mountain top was from a couple years ago and, for example, the morning that I was there (January 31, 2017) I had been wading through about a foot and a half of powder on my way up to that really hard-packed and wind-scoured ridge. The snowpack always just seems to be all over the place. So, you pick a set of skis and make the best of what you got :) Anyway, thanks for tuning in and asking a great question!

[@duanetschmidt]

Jared Manninen thanks for the reply and great videos. I am jealous that I cant be up there gliding along too.

[@JaredManninen]

@@duanetschmidt Thank you again. It was so warm out today that I was out birding. But, lo an behold, Tahoe is forecasted to receive another foot+ of snow this weekend (4/4-4/6/20). So, I'll be sure to get some gliding and turning in for you!

[@jasonportman4591]

Judah or Connor Peak?

[@JaredManninen]

The photo from about 2:21 was taken at Little Round Top in the Meiss Meadow area of South Tahoe. Then, the footage at about 8:36 was from Round Top, just south of Carson Pass (in South Tahoe, as well).